Bedlam RBs duel at NFL Combine as Beal in free fall

<p><em class="gnmEkDate">Originally Published: Feb 28, 2011 9:8 PM CDT</em></p>The Bedlam RB debate continues at the NFL Combine. OSU’s Kendall Hunter had better scores that OU’s DeMarco Murray

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 1:34 pm

By: News 9

Originally Published: Feb 28, 2011 9:8 PM CDT

The Bedlam RB debate continues at the NFL Combine. OSU’s Kendall Hunter had better scores that OU’s DeMarco Murray in 4 of the 7 tests.

Wonderlic intelligence test results were not made available. There are 38 backs participating. Overall, Murray and Hunter finished in the upper third in most categories and among the top in a few.

Murray was impressive running a 4.41 forty to finish fourth among all backs. Hunter’s 4.53 time was disappointing leaving him 12th of fifteen.

Murray’s best result was the broad jump where his 10’ 4” leap was second among backs. Hunter finished fourth jumping 10’ 2”.

Hunter finished second in the 60 yard shuttle and seventh in the bench press pumping 225 pounds 24 times.

NFL.com had some good news for Murray. It reported: Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray is looking like a solid option as a third-down running back in the NFL, according to Bucky Brooks, of NFL.com. Murray was regarded as one of the most dynamic runners in the draft, and his outstanding workout at the NFL Scouting Combine only validated his status. He posted a time of 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and showed excellent explosiveness while going through the drills.

Another report states that Murray’s versatility and return skills will be valuable to him in the NFL.

I saw reports stating the elusiveness of Hunter is a plus, but his poor 40 time was not encouraging in terms of explosiveness. Toolbox.com did not have a write-up on Hunter. But they did have him ranked No. 62 on their draft board.

OU DE Jeremy Beal went into the Combine as the highest rated state player. Toolbox had him the 33rd ranked player. However, things could not have gone much worse than they’ve gone both at the Senior Bowl and now at the Combine.

Here’s the report on Beal from Toolbox: Oklahoma DE Jeremy Beal posted a forty time of over 5.0 at the Scouting Combine on Monday (actually 5.13). Beal was thoroughly unimpressive at the Senior Bowl, so he needed a big Combine to allay concerns he might lack necessary athleticism for the NFL. Obviously, a time of 5-plus seconds in the forty is only going to hurt Beal further. Despite a ridiculously productive college career, Wes Bunting of the NFL Post is grading Beal as an undrafted free agent.

Beal is a great kid who coaches told me a long time ago would test badly but play much better. Well, the first part is in the books. Now we’ll see if the second part comes true for the player who spent more time in the film room than most coaches.

So there you go. This time a year ago a good many of the highly paid “experts” were doubting Sam Bradford. We know what happened in the draft and then this season on the field. It seems everyone besides Murray and Hunter hope those miscalculations are the norm rather than the exception.